Typical cost of a shop swapping out my muffler for a new one ?

[Clint Beastwood]

Yea i know absolutely nothing about welding nor do i have the hardware. Clamping seems easy by comparison, just get the fittings and tighten them properly right? I just have never had experience with this and i have no idea how people do it. I have seen videos of people replacing mufflers and they weld them but im wondering if that's the ONLY way to do it.

I know we have to worry about pressure so nothing on the exhaust line can be attached in a half hearted way. I looked again at the pics of my exhaust but can't tell if it's a clamp only or if it's welded. If it's just a clamp and that's enough to secure it, i could probably manage to cut it off myself and attach a new muffler, im just not sure if that's the case. View attachment 23026

Can't tell if thats just clamped, or clamped and they booger-welded it into place. Even if it's just clamped, you can't just un-clamp that and attach a muffler - The muffler would be hanging out the back of the car. There's a cavity up above that added-on pipe to fit a muffler. If you want to do the install yourself you could always order a complete system but that's going to cost more money. If you want something drone-free you're looking at a thermal or maybe a cp-e. Maybe shop around and look at full system options, might be reasonable to live with the muffler delete for a while and save up for a pre-built system to get everything done right.

I spent a couple grand designing and building my perfect exhaust system (instead of just buying a thermal) - I don't mind because I enjoyed the experience, but if you just want it done cost effectively sometimes it's cheaper to front-load the cost by getting a prebuilt. There's a huuuuuuuuuge ST exhaust thread here somewhere with comparisons of all the systems.

 

[TalkToTheFiST]

Here's another issue whatever muffler you add needs to have a piece of metal welded to it so it can slide into the exhaust hanger.
It has to have some type of support.
I would really leave this to a muffler shop.

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk

Yea i was looking for the hangar on my pics but couldn't see any. I'll probly go to a shop tomorrow or tuesday and see what they say then, i definitely won't do anything on my own as is.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Good point on stainless, i live in MO and we do have a lot of crap weather in the winter, some years lots of snow and salt on the roads. I did call one shop so far and the guy said 50-100$ depending on the setup. I'll have cash in hand this friday so maybe this week sometime i will drive to the shop i called so they can see it and estimate from there.

Bring a dozen donuts or something - in my experience bringing auto-shop dudes some food or coffee tends to bring prices down and/or increase the quality of work.

 

[TalkToTheFiST]

Can't tell if thats just clamped, or clamped and they booger-welded it into place. Even if it's just clamped, you can't just un-clamp that and attach a muffler - The muffler would be hanging out the back of the car. There's a cavity up above that added-on pipe to fit a muffler. If you want to do the install yourself you could always order a complete system but that's going to cost more money. If you want something drone-free you're looking at a thermal or maybe a cp-e. Maybe shop around and look at full system options, might be reasonable to live with the muffler delete for a while and save up for a pre-built system to get everything done right.

I spent a couple grand designing and building my perfect exhaust system (instead of just buying a thermal) - I don't mind because I enjoyed the experience, but if you just want it done cost effectively sometimes it's cheaper to front-load the cost by getting a prebuilt. There's a huuuuuuuuuge ST exhaust thread here somewhere with comparisons of all the systems.

Ok i'll take a look for that thread. I don't mind drone really, and it's not too bad as is i just want the car to be a bit quieter overall on the outside.

 

[TalkToTheFiST]

Bring a dozen donuts or something - in my experience bringing auto-shop dudes some food or coffee tends to bring prices down and/or increase the quality of work.

LOL.

 

[Hypergram]

Bring a dozen donuts or something - in my experience bringing auto-shop dudes some food or coffee tends to bring prices down and/or increase the quality of work.

Not a bad idea. Do you think the same is true for work at an actual dealership?

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Yeah. I don't think you have to weld any aftermarket exhaust. In your situation it make be a bit different since you might be combining parts, but any "full set" shouldn't need any welding unless otherwise specified. That being said, unless you are buying a full set like I did, with lots of instructions, I would just leave it to the shop. If you decide to buy a whole new exhaust set up, Ron at Whoosh is giving away exhaust hangers with an exhaust purchase. With an aftermarket exhaust, they are a must.

Having gone around and around with various FiST exhaust options, there are "clamp-on" options, but they all leak slightly at the clamp joints and can sometimes start to droop or rotate causing your tips to not line up correctly. After you get a slip-fit system installed, it's not a terrible idea to have the shop tack weld a few places so it can't slip - but make sure you tell them you don't want it fully welded since you want to be able to take it off later if necessary otherwise you'll need to cut it if it ever needs to come off.

*if* you get any welding done, either confirm they paint all of the welded joints with hi temp exhaust paint, or buy some yourself and spray all the welds afterwards to prevent a point of oxidation.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Not a bad idea. Do you think the same is true for work at an actual dealership?

I always do, no matter where I go. It's not so much to bribe them - I appreciate that people are doing something for me, and I like to remind them that they're appreciated. The fact my work gets done first, or they put in the extra time, or tack on a discount is just a side effect, sometimes it doesn't happen - but it at least improves their day and I like to be that sort of influence for those people. Bring food/donuts/whatever, but don't make it weird, just say "these are for you guys", then discuss the job at hand. If you are weird about it they'll feel like you are trying to bribe them and the nature of the engagement shifts.

I stopped bringing beer/alcohol after accidentally gifting a bottle of scotch to a recovering alcoholic :facepalm: food and cold drinks (hot weather) or coffee (cold weather) are much safer.

My fabricator though, that dude gets a bottle of scotch every time - I know his brand and he works his tail off for me.

 

[Hypergram]

Having gone around and around with various FiST exhaust options, there are "clamp-on" options, but they all leak slightly at the clamp joints and can sometimes start to droop or rotate causing your tips to not line up correctly. After you get a slip-fit system installed, it's not a terrible idea to have the shop tack weld a few places so it can't slip - but make sure you tell them you don't want it fully welded since you want to be able to take it off later if necessary otherwise you'll need to cut it if it ever needs to come off.

*if* you get any welding done, either confirm they paint all of the welded joints with hi temp exhaust paint, or buy some yourself and spray all the welds afterwards to prevent a point of oxidation.

Thanks for the heads up! When the time comes I intend on going around the car and tighten all the clamps, front to back.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Ok i'll take a look for that thread. I don't mind drone really, and it's not too bad as is i just want the car to be a bit quieter overall on the outside.

If you can live with the noise, maybe bide your time and save up for a prebuilt exhaust, or get a quote from your shop for the fabrication of a full system. It does make a big difference.

 

[Hypergram]

I always do, no matter where I go. It's not so much to bribe them - I appreciate that people are doing something for me, and I like to remind them that they're appreciated. The fact my work gets done first, or they put in the extra time, or tack on a discount is just a side effect, sometimes it doesn't happen - but it at least improves their day and I like to be that sort of influence for those people. Bring food/donuts/whatever, but don't make it weird, just say "these are for you guys", then discuss the job at hand. If you are weird about it they'll feel like you are trying to bribe them and the nature of the engagement shifts.

I stopped bringing beer/alcohol after accidentally gifting a bottle of scotch to a recovering alcoholic :facepalm: food and cold drinks (hot weather) or coffee (cold weather) are much safer.

My fabricator though, that dude gets a bottle of scotch every time - I know his brand and he works his tail off for me.

Yikes, that sounded like a tough situation lol. But that is good thinking. It's always good to establish a rapport with people who help you.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Thanks for the heads up! When the time comes I intend on going around the car and tighten all the clamps, front to back.

My last go-round I just bought an MBRP to cut apart since it was cheaper than buying the tubing from bassani (favorite local stainless provider). Turns out the MBRP with my custom resonator setup sounds great and is drone-free... but the MBRP hits the mid-chassis brace occasionally. The only issue other than brace to exhaust clearance is that the tips occasionally rotate. When I get more time I'll probably do another full-stainless iteration, but I am busy with other projects.

 

[Hypergram]

If you can live with the noise, maybe bide your time and save up for a prebuilt exhaust, or get a quote from your shop for the fabrication of a full system. It does make a big difference.

Hey OP, I recommend going with this route. Plus it is fully possible (albeit a little time consuming) to do this at home, with maybe an extra hand every now and then.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Yikes, that sounded like a tough situation lol. But that is good thinking. It's always good to establish a rapport with people who help you.

It was a definite facepalm moment

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Hey OP, I recommend going with this route. Plus it is fully possible (albeit a little time consuming) to do this at home, with maybe an extra hand every now and then.

Yeah most of the aftermarket prebuilt systems are made to install in your driveway. I am lazy so I just pay my fabricator to do it, but it's technically possible.

I know some have voiced they're tired of seeing the recommendation, but the Thermal exhaust is hands down the best designed FiST exhaust system for drone-free operation (based on my own acoustic analyses and learning more about their use of quarter wave cancellation).

I have not performed metered testing on all the available systems, but I have downloaded clips of every system I found on youtube and did spectrum analysis and only the Thermal adequately cancelled the 107hz range the FiST is known for - the CP-E almost does, but I think it's chamber is slightly undersized.

 

[Hypergram]

Yeah most of the aftermarket prebuilt systems are made to install in your driveway. I am lazy so I just pay my fabricator to do it, but it's technically possible.

I know some have voiced they're tired of seeing the recommendation, but the Thermal exhaust is hands down the best designed FiST exhaust system for drone-free operation (based on my own acoustic analyses and learning more about their use of quarter wave cancellation).

If I ever need any help with an exhaust I now know who to come to.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

If I ever need any help with an exhaust I now know who to come to.

If you want to learn too much about acoustic noise control check out my “cancelling drone” posts. 2 of them, one custom, another proving you could tame even an MBRP lol.

 

[TalkToTheFiST]

Hey OP, I recommend going with this route. Plus it is fully possible (albeit a little time consuming) to do this at home, with maybe an extra hand every now and then.

So by prebuilt exhaust, you guys are meaning a full cat back system? I guess the reason i was looking at just the muffler, for now, was i had a few other things that were higher priority. One was the FMIC which i hope to replace by next spring before the heat comes back. I might be able to get it done by Christmas but can't be sure, so i know i won't have the cash for a full on exhaust until after my FMIC. If i got a full exhaust system first, i doubt i could get the FMIC in time for summer.

So rather than go another 6-8mo with the extra noise, i figured i can sneak in a muffler now since it doesn't seem to cost much and still keep the budget under control and get my FMIC in time. I will most likely get a turbo back, eventually, it will just take another year or two since we are supposed to have that for a new turbo right?

Im just thinking long term, i love my car and it only has 33k miles so im planning years ahead here. If i had my choice to swap cars straight across, there's nothing i'd rather have than a FIST unless it got unrealistic like a Ferrari or something.

It's funny, yesterday i stopped into a gas station with my little one to get a bag of chips and there were some youth getting gas. Couple Stangs and they were standing around talking and such. When i pulled up every head turned like they'd never seen a car like this before. My FIST is a little rough here and there, my splitter is knicked and needs replacing, my front end has a slight sag but unless you look close it looks pretty clean.

That's one of the things i like most, you just don't see these cars often. I like mustangs but my god they are EVERYWHERE. If my FIST dies tomorrow i think i'll buy another one as soon as im able. Im here to stay.